Combination double four color web printing press



H. J. LUEHRS July 30, 1963 COMBINATION DOUBLE FOUR COLOR WEB PRINTINGPRESS 13 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 6, 1961 H. J. LUEHRS 3,099,210

COMBINATION DOUBLE FOUR COLOR was PRINTING PRESS July 30, 1963 15Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 6, 1961 muo am ATTORNEYS I T i4. HP U N m-|LEI| mm EEO H. J. LUEHRS 3,099,210

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COMBINATION DOUBLE FOUR COLOR WEB PRINTING PRESS Filed Sept. 6, 1961 15Sheets-Sheet 6 INVENTOR 7/9Ms J14 U564? LIh/MWM MS ATTORNEYS H. J.LUEHRS 3,099,210

COMBINATION DOUBLE FOUR COLOR WEB PRINTING PRESS July 30, 1963 13Sheets-Sheet 7 Filed Sept. 6, 1961 INVENTOR E VS $40M 4004 AM ATTORNEYSmtz: azzrzEm Emmaw mu;

H. J. LUEHRS July 30, 1953 COMBINATION DOUBLE FOUR COLOR WEB PRINTINGPRESS 15 Sheets-Sheet 8 Filed Sept. 6, 1961 INVENTOR 7/94/5 -72 (J5me;

M A J ATTORNEYS H. J. LUEHRS July so, 1963 COMBINATION DOUBLE FOUR COLORWEB PRINTING PRESS 15 Sheets-Sheet 9 Filed Sept. 6, 1961 4 m w w E m W Jm s W M W zfl my H. J. LUEHRS July 30, 1963 COMBINATION DOUBLE FOURCOLOR WEB PRINTING PRESS Filed Sept. 6, 19 61 13 Sheets-Sheet 10 wtz:QZZZEQ o z ou INVENTOR WWW-S JAL/g/ffs BY FM A6: ATTORNEYS H. J. LUEHRS3,099,210

COMBINATION DOUBLE FOUR COLOR WEB PRINTING PRESS July 30, 1963 15Sheets-Sheet 11 Filed Sept. 6, 1961 INVENTOR #36 5 J: [luvs/y s" M 011 4ATTORNEYS 2 5m 595m mu;

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COMBINATION DOUBLE FOUR COLOR WEB PRINTING PRESS Filed Sept. 6, 1961 13Sheets-Sheet 15 COOLING PRINTING DRYERS UNITS UNITS INVENTOR 6/1;ATTORNEY} United rates atent r in inn

3,i)9,21l) CUMBINATIGN DOUBLE FGUR COLGR WEB PRHNTENG PRESS Hans J.Luelirs, Westerly, RL, assignor to The (Jottrell Company, Westerly, Pola corporation of Delaware Filed Sept. 6, 1961, Ser. No. 136,353 3Claims. (1. lli1l8ll) It will be understood that while conventionalplates may be used in the structure described below, the design of sameis particularly suitable for wrap-around plate utilization.

The object of my invention is to provide a web rotary press in which aweb or webs can be perfected in one or more colors by passing samethrough desired printing units and drying units which always remain intheir same structural relationship regardless of the printing and dryingoperations to be performed.

Another object is to provide a press of the character described in whichink cylinders are mounted in the main press frame with their plate andimpression cylinders to assure required rigidity and accurate contact ofcylinders.

Another object is to provide a single unit dryer between two stacks ofcolor printing units so that minimum travel of a printed web is obtainedprior to printing the second side of the web at its printing unit.

The arrangement of the two stacks of four printing couples each permitsthe use of a single unit dryer, yet the designed arrangement providesfor single web perfecting in four colors, in one color, plus anyintermediate combination thereof without physical contact of the freshlyprinted side of the web before drying and without the necessity ofreversing the direction of rotation of any units.

A further object is to provide a web rotary press of the characterdescribed in which, Without structural alteration, it is possible toperfect four webs simultaneously by printing in one color on each sideof each web, or to perfect one web in four colors on each side thereof,or to perfect two webs in two colors on each side thereof, or to perfectother webs in predetermined numbers and colors limited only by theavailable web leads and color printing units of the press.

Broadly, my invention comprises a web printing press in which aplurality of stacked color printing units are located on opposite endsof a single unit dryer with at least one web supply adjacent one stackof color printing units and means for handling the printed productadjacent the second stack of printing units, such means comprising afolder, cutter and/or other product handling mechanism, such as adelivery.

A practical embodiment of my invention is illustrated in theaccompanying drawings in which,

FIGS. 1 and la represent in diagrammatic side elevation a rotary webprinting press constructed in accordance with my invention andillustrating a plurality of the operations possible on webs led in theirpredetermined paths, :i.e.; for perfecting four webs each in one coloron each side or, in the alternative, one web in four colors on bothsides.

FIGS. 2 and 2a illustrate diagrammatically in a plan view the embodimentof my invention shown in FIGS. 1

and in showing all the units of the press in longitudinal alignment.

FIGS. 3 and 3:: illustrate diagrammatically the web leads for perfectingeach of two webs in two colors on each side, the web being denoted byX-l and X-2.

FIGS. 4 and 4a illustrate diagrammatically side elevation the web leadfor perfecting a single web in one color on both sides, said web beingtaken from the web supply W1.

FlGS. 5 and 5a illustrate diagrammatically in side elevation a singleweb taken from the web supply W2, said web being perfected in one coloron both sides thereof.

FIGS. 6 and 6a illustrate diagrammatically in side elevation a singleweb being perfected in one color on both sides thereof said web beingtaken from the web supply W3.

FIGS. 7 and 7a illustrate diagrammatically in side elevation :a singleweb taken from the web supply W4, said web being perfected in one coloron both sides thereof.

in all of the foregoing figures, the press frame has been leftincomplete for purposes of clarification.

PEG. 8 shows the frame construction used in all the foregoing figuresdesignated as 1a, 2a, 3a, 4a, 5a, 6a and 7a.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 1a of the accompanying drawings, a multicolorrotary printing press is here illustrated comprising its main pressframe 5, a plurality of web supply rolls designated respectively W1, W2,W3 and W4, a series of superposed printing units, the impressioncylinders of said units designated by 6, '7, 8 and 9 respectively on oneside of the drying units.

The other set of printing units are superposed and have impressioncylinders of said units designated by 10, ll, 12 and 13. The impressioncylinders are shown as being twice the diameter of their plate and inkcylinders to insure rigidity for good printing. The several webs aremarked 1, 2, 3 and l.

The inking units for the first mentioned printing units are designatedgenerally 6a, 7a, 8a and 9a, and the inking units for the other set ofprinting units are designated generally by 10a, 11a, 12a, and 13a. Itwill be noted the ink distributions are retractable to facilitateplating and web threading in spite of the simple, compact yet versatilepress structure.

The ink trains are such that the first contacting form roll is the oneloaded with the heaviest film of ink while the other two form rollscarry the remainder of the supplied ink to the ink cylinder at adifferent location on its surface, thus securing a uniform supply of inkto the plate.

The drying units are designated by 14, i5, 16 and 17 and are located ina single stack between: the two stacks of printing units mentionedabove. At the opposite ends of the drying units are pairs of coolingrolls designated by the numerals 18 through 33 inclusive.

The usual means taken from the press drive is provided for rotating therespective cylinders and is designated generally by the numeral 34-which indicates a horizontal shaft driving separate trains of gearsdriven from gears 35 and 3d at opposite ends of the drying units. Gear35, for example, drives cooling rolls, l9, l8 and impression cylinder 6,intermediate gear 37 carrying the drive to impression cylinder 7. itwill be noted that this intermediate gear designated as 37 is duplicatedat 38, 39, 40, 41 and 42 in the respective units with the respectivedrives being transmitted thereby to the other units interconnectedtherewti h as shown in FIGS. 1 and 1a, 3 and 3a. This system of drivingthe respective units minimizes backlash and gives improved registration.As the cooling rolls are also driven directly from the same intermediategears, an economic and simple design is created.

The operation of this combination is as follows: As-

suming that it is desired to perfect each of four webs in one color onlyon both sides thereof, the web 1 is led rom its supply roll W1 to andthrough the usual web advancing means (not numbered) to and aroundimpression cylinder 14 where it is printed on one side in one color andled back through the dryer 14- to cooling roll 18 and around the coolingroll 19. From the latter it is led to and around impression cylinder 6Where it is printed in one color on its opposite side and then led backthrough dryer 14 to and around cooling rolls 213 and 21 and from thereto the folder.

The web 2 is led from its supply roll W2 by the usual Web advancingmeans to and around the impression cylinder 11 where it is printed inone color on one side then back through dryer to and around coolingrolls 22 and 23, thence to impression cylinder 7 where it is printed inone color on the opposite sides then back through dryer 15 to and aroundcooling rolls 24 and 25, thence to the folder.

The web 3 is led from its supply roll W3 and advanced by the usual Webadvancing means to and around impression cylinder 12 where it is printedon one side in one color, thence back through dryer 16 to and aroundcooling rolls 26 and 27, thence back to impression cylinder 8 where itis printed in one color on the other side, thence back through dryer 16to and around cooling rolls 2S and 29 and thence to the folder.

The Web 4 is led from the supply roll W-4 and forwarded by the usual webadvancing means to and around the impression cylinder 13 where it isprinted on one side in one color, thence back through dryer 17 to andaround cooling rolls 39 and 31, thence to impression cylinder 9 where itis printed in one color on the other side thereof and is then led backthrough dryer 17 to and around cooling rolls 32 and 33 and from thenceto the folder.

It will be seen that four webs can thus be perfected in one color onboth sides simultaneously and delivered to a common folder.

Assuming that it is desired to perfect a single web by printing in fourcolors on each side thereof, the web 1 is advanced by the usual webadvancing means from the supply roll W-l to impression cylinder 10 whereit is printed in one color, thence to impression cylinder 11 forprinting in a second color, thence to impression cylinder 12 to receivea third color and thence to impression cylinder 13 to receive a fourthcolor. The web is then passed through dryer 17 to and around coolingrolls 30 and '31 and downwardly in contact with cooling rolls 27, 23 and19 successively from whence it is passed around impression cylinders 6,7, 8 and 9 for receiving four colors on the opposite side of the Web.The Web 1 is then led from the impression cylinder 9 to and throughdryer 17 to and around cooling rolls 32 and 33 from which it isforwarded to the folder. It will be seen that :a single web has beenperfected in four colors on both sides without changing the location ordirection of rotation of any unit from the position it occupied to printfour webs as above described.

If it is desired to perfect two webs by applying two colors to each sideof both webs which can be accomplished by this apparatus as follows: Theweb designated X-l in FIGS. 3 and 3a may be drawn from the web supplydesignated in FIG. 1 as W-1. The web X-1 is passed by the usual webadvancing means to impression cylinder 1% where it receives one colorthen to impression cylinder 11 where, on the same side, it receives asecond color. The web X1 is then passed to and through dryer 15 to andaround cooling rolls 22, 23 and 19' to impression cylinder 6 Where, onthe opposite side, it receives one color and to impression cylinder 7where it receives a second color thence to and through the dryer 15 toand around cooling rolls 24 and 25 and from there to the folder, thushaving been perfected by the application of two colors to each side ofsaid web X-l.

At the same time the web designated by X-Z can be supplied from the websupply roll designated as W-3 to the impression cylinder 12 where it isprinted in one color on one side and from there to impression cylinder13 where it receives another color on the same side, the Web is thenpassed through dryer 17 to and around cooling rolls 3% and 31 and fromthere to roll 27 from whence it is led to impression cylinder 8 for theapplication of one color to its white side and from there to impressioncylinder 9 for the application of a second color to that side. The webX-2 is then led to and through dryer 17 to and around cooling rolls 32and 33 from whence it is led to the folder.

it will thus be seen that two webs have been perfected in two colors oneach side simultaneously and without relocating the operating parts ofthe press constructed according to my invention.

it will be obvious that other web combinations and combinations ofnumbers or colors thereon may be feasible in this structure, without achang or location of parts, and without departing from the scope of thisinvention.

It will be noted that the printing units are spaced with a stack ofsingle unit dryers therebetween and that a common folder may be providedto handle all the webs when they have been printed.

It should be noted further there is only one gear between color unitswhich facilitates registry and adjustment as outlined above.

Since it is evident that changes may be made in the form, constructionand arrangement of the several parts without departing from the spiritand scope of my invention, I do not intend to be limited to the specificembodiments herein shown and described except as set forth in theappended claims.

What I claim is:

1. In a combination plate rotary web printing press, a plurality of websupply rolls, a first stack of color printing units, a second stack ofcolor printing units, a stack of single unit dryers located between saidstacks of printing units, a single gear connecting coacting colorprinting units of the same stack with each other, web handling meanslocated beyond the second stack of printing units and web advancingmeans for forwarding a single web from any supply roll to and throughthe several units of a stack of printing units, back through a dryer, toand through the several units of the other stack of printing units, backthrough a dryer and to the web handling means whereby the said web isprinted in multi-color on both sides thereof.

2. In a combination plate notary web printing press, a. plurality of websupply rolls, a first stack of color printing units, a second stack ofcolor printing units, a stack of single unit dryers located between saidstacks of printing units, a single gear connecting coacting colorprinting units of the same stack with each other and coacting coolingrolls connected with at least one of said single gears and driventhereby, web handling means locatted beyond the second stack of printingunits and Web advancing means for forwarding a single web from anysupply roll to and through the several units of a stack of printingunits, back through a dryer, to and through the several units of theother stack of printing units, back through a dryer and to the webhandling means whereby the said web is printed in multi-color on bothsides thereof.

3. In a combination plate rotary web printing press, at

least one Web supply, a main fname, stacks of superposed color printingunits comprising impression cylinders, plate cylinders, and their inkcylinders, at least one ink cylinder being mounted in said main frame, asingle gear connecting coacting color printing units of the same stackwith each other, a stack of single unit drying units located betweenstacks of printing units, a web handling unit located beyond the secondstack of printing units and Web advancing means for forwarding a webfrom a supply roll to and through at least one printing unit of saidsecond stack of printing units, back through a drying unit,

6 to and through at least one printing unit of said first stack ofprinting units, thence back through a drying unit to the web handlingunit whereby at least one web is printed in at least one color on eachside of said web.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,738,323 Scott Dec. 3, 1929 2,231,187 Hawley Feb. 11, 1941 2,368,341Zuckerman Ian. 31), 1945 2,557,381 Huebner June 19, 1951

1. IN A COMBINATION PLATE ROTARY WEB PRINTING PRESS, A PLURALITY OF WEBSUPPLY ROLLS, A FIRST STACK OF COLOR PRINTING UNITS, A SECOND STACK OFCOLOR PRINTING UNITS, A STACK OF SINGLE UNIT DRYERS LOCATED BETWEEN SAIDSTACKS OF PRINTING UNITS, A SINGLE GEAR CONNECTING COACTING COLORPRINTING UNITS OF THE SAME STACK WITH EACH OTHER, WEB HANDLING MEANSLOCATED BEYOND THE SECOND STACK OF PRINTING UNITS AND WEB ADVANCINGMEANS FOR FORWARDING A SINGLE WEB FROM ANY SUPPLY ROLL TO AND THROUGHTHE SEVERAL UNITS OF A STACK OF PRINTING UNITS, BACK THROUGH A DRYER, TOAND THROUGH THE SEVERAL UNITS OF THE OTHER STACK OF PRINTING UNITS, BACKTHROUGH A DRYER AND TO THE WEB HANDLING MEANS WHEREBY THE SAID WEB ISPRINTED IN MULTI-COLOR ON BOTH SIDES THEREOF.